BOWL - Aga Khan Museum
Aga Khan Development Network
 
The Aga Khan Museum: Ceramic, Mosaic - Zand, 18th century CE  Place your mouse over the image
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Classification
Ceramic, Mosaic

Object name
Bowl

Geography
Iran

Period
Zand, 18th century CE

Dynasty
Zand

Materials and technique
Fritware, underglaze lustre painted in brown and blue

Dimensions
Height 9 cm; Ø 22.2 cm

Accession number
AKM00697

Description

The lustre painted technique and the subject matter depicted on this small bowl are more reminiscent of mediaeval Seljuq and Il-khanid wares, which commonly illustrated scenes from Persian literature, especially the Shahnama of Firdawsi, the national oral epic about the ancient kings and legendary heroes of Iran. A princely or heroic figure pursues an awkward-looking dragon around a central, eight-petalled rosette; two sets of triangular mountain peaks appear between the figures, setting the scene for the hunt. The circular shape of the bowl and the running stance of the hunter add a dynamic tension to the episode. Stylistically, however, the figure of the hunter appears more related to the early Zand period (r. 1750-79 CE) during which artists closely followed the aesthetic models of their Safavid predecessors. The exterior of the bowl contains six panels displaying various landscapes and a large bird that appears in alternating frames.

Other similar artefacts

60 pieces found

EWERPILGRIMS-FLASKDISH-WITH-INSCRIPTIONBowlBOWLVASEBOWL-WITH-INSCRIPTIONDISH-WITH-INSCRIPTIONJARDISH-WITH-A-BIRD-MOTIFDISH-WITH-RADIATING-SPOKESBOTTLE-WITH-HORSEMENBOWLBOWL-WITH-RIDERS-AND-CAMELSBottleBOWLTILEVASEALBARELLOALBARELLOALBARELLOTILETILE-PANELMUQARNAS-TILEMUQARNAS-TILECapitalBOWL-WITH-A-BIRD-MOTIFHEXAGONAL-TILETILE-ARCHMIHRAB-PANELDish-with-central-flowerBLUEANDWHITE-DISH-PANEL-WITH-IRISESDISHDish-with-red-rosesDish-with-tulips-and-rosesTILE-FRIEZETILEPLATEDish-with-a-representation-of-a-gardenDish-with-geometrical-decorationDISH-WITH-SEVEN-HOLLOWSBowl-with-horse-rider-and-birdBowl-with-man-stabbing-a-lionTILEBowlEMERALD-GREEN-BOTTLEDISHQibla-tileDishBowlBOWLPlateBowlTileDishDISH-WITH-FLORAL-MOTIFSJugDishDish-with-Lion-motif